Water method with water exchange has been shown to reduce medication requirement and pain experienced during colonoscopy. It increases the success rate of cecal intubation in sedated and unsedated patients undergoing screening colonoscopy. Exchange of water during scope insertion minimizes distension of the colonic lumen and decreases loop formation. Exclusion of air from the colon during insertion by omission of air insufflations and suction removal of residual air prevent elongation of the colon. These maneuvers facilitate colonoscopy insertion in average patients and may enhance the success of difficult colonoscopy.

Colonoscopy has been considered the gold standard procedure in screening for colorectal disease. However, 5-10% of colonoscopies are incomplete due to patient discomfort, difficult anatomy and prior abdominal or pelvic surgery. The investigators postulate that these patients may benefit from using the water method for colonoscopy. In this proposal the investigators test the hypothesis that compared with conventional air insufflations the water method with water exchange significantly enhances the success rate of cecal intubation in patients with immediately failed colonoscopy.

The aim of the study is to compare the outcome of colonoscopy using the water method versus the conventional air method in patients with incomplete colonoscopy. The primary outcome is cecal intubation success rate. The secondary outcomes include cecal intubation time, maximum pain score during colonoscopy, overall pain score after colonoscopy and adenoma detection rate.

Colonoscopy will be performed without medications and with judicious air insufflation during colonoscope insertion.

Water colonoscopy

Colonoscopy will be performed without medications and aided by water infusion in-lieu of air insufflation during insertion of the colonoscope.

Other: Water colonoscopy

Colonoscopy will be performed without medications and aided by water infusion in-lieu of air insufflation during insertion of the colonoscope. The water infusion involves putting warm sterile water into the colon to open up the colon for advancement of the colonoscope until the end of the colon (cecum) is reached. The water is delivered through scope irrigation channel by an infusion pump equipped with a foot switch which will be controlled by the endoscopist. Infused water used to cleanse residual fecal matter will be suctioned as needed to clear the colonic lumen.

Other Names:

Water

colonoscopy

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Senior)

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients with incomplete colonoscopy

Exclusion Criteria:

History of colorectal surgery

Severe colonic stricture or obstructing tumor

Patients who cannot give informed consent and those who are hemodynamically unstable

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01546246